Rules on travel over the Christmas Period
Published 23 December 2020
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The UK government and the devolved administrations have had to deliver difficult but necessary messages on Christmas this year.
It is important to take personal responsibility to limit the spread of the virus and protect loved ones, especially if they are vulnerable. Approximately one in three people with coronavirus (COVID-19) have no symptoms and will be spreading it without realising it.
There are some differences in the rules over Christmas depending upon where you live. It is important you understand what the rules are and what it means for your ability to travel over the Christmas period.
1. The rules for Christmas travel in England
1.1 Tier 4 travel rules
You must not visit or leave a Tier 4 area to see others over Christmas, including on Christmas Day. If you live in a Tier 4 area in England, travel within your area is limited over Christmas and more generally. You cannot meet other people indoors, unless you ordinarily live with them, or they are part of your existing support bubble. Outdoors, you can only meet one person from another household.
1.2 Tiers 1-3 travel rules
On Christmas day only, you will be able to travel to see your Christmas bubble depending on the rules of where you are travelling to and from. You cannot travel to and from Tier 4 areas in England, or to and from Scotland, in order to form a Christmas bubble.You should avoid travelling to lower prevalence areas.
You should try to stay local where possible.
Between 24 and 26 December you can stay in private rented accommodation, a hotel, hostel or B&B in England over Christmas, in line with the social gathering and travel rules in your tier, as long as you are staying by yourself, or with other members of your household and support bubble, and it is necessary for seeing your Christmas bubble on Christmas Day. This includes in a Tier 3: Very High alert area.
Find out more about rules and guidance on keeping safe in England over Christmas.
Find out what tier your area is in.
2. The rules for Christmas travel in Scotland
In Scotland the law prohibiting non-essential travel to or from local authority areas that are in Level 3 permits you to travel to meet in a Christmas bubble on Christmas day only. However, to minimise the risk of spreading the virus, you should stay at home or in your local area as much as possible.
You can only travel within Scotland to meet those in your Christmas bubble and you must travel and return home on the same day, 25 December.
You must not travel between Scotland and the rest of the UK to meet with your Christmas bubble.
Find out more about rules and guidance on keeping safe in Scotland over Christmas.
3. The rules for Christmas travel in Wales
On Christmas day you are able to travel to see your Christmas bubble, depending on the rules of where you are travelling to.
You cannot travel to or from Scotland or Tier 4 areas in England.
Within Wales, if you are travelling away from home, you should travel to meet your Christmas bubble and return home within the same day, 25 December.
Find out more about rules and guidance on keeping safe in Wales over Christmas.
4. The rules for Christmas travel in Northern Ireland
You should not travel in or out of Northern Ireland except where it is essential to do so.
If you are arriving into Northern Ireland from within the Common Travel Area and you plan to remain here for at least 24 hours, you must self-isolate upon arrival for 10 days in the same way as international arrivals. People who routinely cross the border for essential purposes are not subject to these requirements.
If you are travelling to or from Northern Ireland to meet your Christmas bubble you are subject to the rules of where you are travelling to and from. This means:
- you cannot travel to or from Scotland
- you cannot travel to or from Tier 4 areas in England
- you can only travel to and from Wales on Christmas day
You are strongly advised to consider the risks of travelling outside Northern Ireland to form a Christmas bubble.
Find out more about rules and guidance on keeping safe in Northern Ireland over Christmas.